Accident reports in area

Two Chester residents were injured in a Dec. 8 accident on Old Oak Road and Rockcastle Road, south of the Steeleville village limits.

According to the Randolph County Sheriff"s Office crash report, 16-year-old Kelly Eaton was stopped at the intersection of Old Oak Road and Rockcastle Road, while a tractor was stopped in the north lane of Rockcastle Road waiting to make a left turn onto Old Oak.

Eaton reportedly told law enforcement investigating the crash that the driver of the tractor waved her into the intersection to make a left turn onto Rockcastle, where the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier she was driving collided with a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 47-year-old Michael Oakley.

Both Oakley and a 49-year-old passenger in his car, Dixie Oakley, suffered injuries and were transported to Sparta Community Hospital for treatment.

Eaton, who did not report injuries at the scene, was ticketed for failure to yield at an intersection. The accident was reported at 7:56 a.m.

December 16

• Chain reaction crash on Route 155

Icy conditions were blamed for a chain reaction crash on State Route 155 in Prairie du Rocher on Dec. 16.

According to the Randolph County Sheriff"s Office, a 1994 Freightliner tractor - driven by 34-year-old Joshua Long of Prairie du Rocher - was traveling westbound on Route 155 when it ran off the left side of the roadway and sideswiped a parked 2015 Chevrolet 4-door.

The Freightliner caused minor damage to the passenger side of the smaller vehicle and pulled over in the grass 50 feet in front of the Chevrolet, which was facing westbound.

The owner of the Chevrolet, who is not listed in the accident report, told law enforcement she had parked her vehicle on the side of the roadway after sliding off the road due to ice.

Five minutes later, an Illinois Department of Transportation plow truck - driven by 48-year-old Jason McDaniels of Sparta - that had been spreading salt in the area also slid off the road and struck the Freightliner, causing minor damage to both vehicles.

No tickets or injuries were reported in either accident. The initial accident was reported at 7:30 p.m.

December 18

• Shawneetown Trail

A one-vehicle accident on Dec. 18 sent a Sparta man to the hospital, according to the Randolph County Sheriff"s Office.

The accident report states 33-year-old Nathan Biama was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado westbound on Shawneetown Trail a half-mile west of Autumn Road when he ran off the left side of the road.

The Silverado traveled along the ditch for 810 feet before crossing the roadway and running off the right side of the road, striking a ditch and a telephone box before overturning.

The vehicle came to rest on its driver"s side facing east. Biama was ticketed for improper lane useage.